Willowdown Primary School, Bridgwater
Willowdown Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Bridgwater, part of Futura Learning Partnership. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 26 schools in Bridgwater with published results, and 8,950th of 14,452 across England. It was 65% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Somerset (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Willowdown Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils at Willowdown Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Somerset and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 74% in reading and 61% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Willowdown Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 37 families put Willowdown Primary School as their first choice and 65 named it as one of their preferences, for 42 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Willowdown Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Willowdown Primary School are Eastover Primary School (1 mile, Good, 84% reading, 92% maths); St John and St Francis Church School (1.3 miles, Good, 72% reading, 74% maths); Northgate Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 89% reading, 86% maths); and Kingsmoor Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 88% maths).
Willowdown Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Eastover Primary SchoolSt John and St Francis Church SchoolNorthgate Primary SchoolKingsmoor Primary School
The trust
Willowdown Primary School is one of 26 schools run by Futura Learning Partnership, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 73% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Willowdown Primary School (as of April 2026): 94% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 90% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (90%).
Who goes there
34.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (59%), Asian (7%) and other ethnic groups (5%).
In 2026, 46 pupils (12.7%) received SEN support and 6 (1.7%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Willowdown Primary School has a resourced provision for social, emotional and mental health needs: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bridgwater Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Willowdown Primary School (outside), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 176 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Willowdown Primary School issued 12 suspensions, 3.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Willowdown Primary School are Bridgwater College Academy (0.8 miles) and Chilton Trinity School (1.2 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 9 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Willowdown Primary School excels at supporting every child, especially those who need extra help. Teachers know pupils well and provide caring, supportive environments where children can thrive. The school has recovered well from recent challenges and is now delivering high-quality teaching with improving results that show pupils are catching up and achieving at or above national levels.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive approach with tailored support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged learners
- Improved pupil outcomes in 2025 with writing above national average and other subjects close to average
- Well-established behaviour systems creating a calm, purposeful learning environment
- Ambitious leadership with effective staff development and ongoing curriculum improvement
- Strong early years provision with phonics prioritized and children well-prepared for Year 1
Areas for Improvement
- Persistent absence remains a challenge despite improvements
- Some pupils still catching up in reading, writing and mathematics
- Leaders recognize need to sustain recent improvements in achievement
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders and staff have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Extracurricular Activities
Year 5 mini-police project, eco-councillors, clubs
Willowdown Primary School has made significant improvements after a period of leadership instability, with pupils now learning and achieving well across the curriculum. The school provides strong support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
22.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
31 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 74% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 61% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.1
Avg class size
23.2
Infant (KS1)
24.7
KS2
15
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Willowdown Primary School
Before and after school care
Willowdown Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Somerset
Getting There
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Willowdown Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Willowdown Primary School is in Somerset; for families living there:
Apply to Somerset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 2
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 3 serious and 3 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Willowdown Primary School
Will you get a place at Willowdown Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Willowdown Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Willowdown Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Willowdown Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Somerset, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Willowdown Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Somerset got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
65%
Available places
275 pupils
420 places
145 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bridgwater
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bridgwater
Across Somerset council
Places available
6,414
Applications
4,928
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Somerset council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
46
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
14.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Willowdown Primary School has a resourced provision for social, emotional and mental health needs: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
361
Total Pupils
198
Boys
163
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
24.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,975
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,473
Per pupil
£1771k
Total funding
£111k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.0%
Overall absence
21.2%
Persistent absence
250
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Willowdown Primary School
Questions parents ask about Willowdown Primary School
What are SATs results like at Willowdown Primary School?
Of the pupils at Willowdown Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 69% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is Willowdown Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Willowdown Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Willowdown Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Willowdown Primary School is oversubscribed, Somerset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Willowdown Primary School?
Willowdown Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 65% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Willowdown Primary School?
Classes at Willowdown Primary School average 24.1 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Willowdown Primary School?
Willowdown Primary School has around 361 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Willowdown Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Willowdown Primary School has a resourced provision for social, emotional and mental health needs: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Willowdown Primary School?
7% of sessions were missed at Willowdown Primary School in 2024/25. 21.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Willowdown Primary School?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming Willowdown Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Willowdown Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Willowdown Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Willowdown Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 3 serious and 3 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Willowdown Primary School?
Willowdown Primary School is at Kings Drive, Bridgwater, TA6 4FU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)